Global Superyacht Forum 2010
Once again, the superyacht industry’s largest and most valuable three day networking and business conference, the Global Superyacht Forum, took place in Amsterdam, hosted by the SuperyachtEvents team...…
Once again, the superyacht industry’s largest and most valuable three day networking and business conference, the Global Superyacht Forum, took place in Amsterdam, hosted by the SuperyachtEvents team. Over 400 major players in the superyacht arena met in the Dutch capital over the course of three days to debate and digest the most important issues facing the market right now, led by a group of dynamic speakers.
With the delegates hailing from all areas of the industry, it was exciting to see several from forward thinking design studios, including Jonny Horsfield of H2 Yacht Design, Pierre Perben of Espen Oeino International, Menno van Dijk from Studio Delta, Jody Chapman from Redman Whiteley Dixon and Roland Krueger from Newcruise. There were also delegates from Lurssen, Feadship, Burgess, Heesen, Amels, Royal Huisman, Abeking & Rasmussen, Benetti, Moonen, YCO, Edmiston, YPI, Dohle, Rybovich, CMN, Thyssen Krupp, Camper & Nicholsons, Hill Robinson and Watkins, representing hundreds of yachts, new build and existing.
Over the course of the three days, sessions looked at everything from controversial issues like the ILO MLC 2006 to ways that the industry can broaden its horizons by looking at related luxury markets, as well as topics such as valuation, coatings, passenger codes and project management.
Of particular interest, from a design perspective was the keynote session on day one, led by Richard Beattie, owner of the 45-metre Big Fish. Joined by Jim Gilbert of Aquos Yachts by McMullen & Wing, Beattie described Big Fish as a “revelation” in terms of what could be experienced on board a superyacht and explained that there is a new generation of potential owners who should be being marketed to and attracted to the market. Beattie stressed the importance of enticing new owners through charter, expressing his belief that if many of those able to afford yachts were just made aware of "wow factor" of the experience on offer, they would be easily converted to the idea of ownership.
The most popular session of the entire event was arguably the one co-chaired by Paul Miller from Underwriting Risk Services Ltd, on the owners investing in the industry. The paper was presented by Salim Erdem of Merit Gemicilik A S and Moonen, and Sean Ewing of Pinmar. As well as being a superyacht owner, with another under construction, Erdem acquired the majority shares in Moonen Shipyards in 2009. Ewing has also invested in the industry by purchasing the majority share in Pinmar, which was previously held by the Ferretti Group, and he is also now Pinmar’s Chairman. Erdem’s and Ewing’s views on the industry were highly personal, diverse, interesting and conflicting. Erdem saw yachting as an emotional and artistic venture, even going so far as to say that he didn’t feel a yard should necessarily make a profit. Meanwhile, Ewing, whose background is in financial services and the investment sector, took a much more business-like approach, placing more emphasis on numbers. Both speakers offered delegates a serious insight into the mind of the yacht owner and the HNWI, with Ewing providing a wish list for the industry — an industry that has in been disadvantaged in recent times by crisis — in the hopes of helping it improve its performance.
Anyone interested in registering for Global Superyacht Forum 2011 or any other events organised by the SuperyachtEvents team should contact Andy Howell or visit SuperyachtEvents.com
Transcripts will be available to attending delegates and subscribers to the Business and Executive packages over the coming weeks at SuperyachtEvents.com
With the delegates hailing from all areas of the industry, it was exciting to see several from forward thinking design studios, including Jonny Horsfield of H2 Yacht Design, Pierre Perben of Espen Oeino International, Menno van Dijk from Studio Delta, Jody Chapman from Redman Whiteley Dixon and Roland Krueger from Newcruise. There were also delegates from Lurssen, Feadship, Burgess, Heesen, Amels, Royal Huisman, Abeking & Rasmussen, Benetti, Moonen, YCO, Edmiston, YPI, Dohle, Rybovich, CMN, Thyssen Krupp, Camper & Nicholsons, Hill Robinson and Watkins, representing hundreds of yachts, new build and existing.
Over the course of the three days, sessions looked at everything from controversial issues like the ILO MLC 2006 to ways that the industry can broaden its horizons by looking at related luxury markets, as well as topics such as valuation, coatings, passenger codes and project management.
Of particular interest, from a design perspective was the keynote session on day one, led by Richard Beattie, owner of the 45-metre Big Fish. Joined by Jim Gilbert of Aquos Yachts by McMullen & Wing, Beattie described Big Fish as a “revelation” in terms of what could be experienced on board a superyacht and explained that there is a new generation of potential owners who should be being marketed to and attracted to the market. Beattie stressed the importance of enticing new owners through charter, expressing his belief that if many of those able to afford yachts were just made aware of "wow factor" of the experience on offer, they would be easily converted to the idea of ownership.
The most popular session of the entire event was arguably the one co-chaired by Paul Miller from Underwriting Risk Services Ltd, on the owners investing in the industry. The paper was presented by Salim Erdem of Merit Gemicilik A S and Moonen, and Sean Ewing of Pinmar. As well as being a superyacht owner, with another under construction, Erdem acquired the majority shares in Moonen Shipyards in 2009. Ewing has also invested in the industry by purchasing the majority share in Pinmar, which was previously held by the Ferretti Group, and he is also now Pinmar’s Chairman. Erdem’s and Ewing’s views on the industry were highly personal, diverse, interesting and conflicting. Erdem saw yachting as an emotional and artistic venture, even going so far as to say that he didn’t feel a yard should necessarily make a profit. Meanwhile, Ewing, whose background is in financial services and the investment sector, took a much more business-like approach, placing more emphasis on numbers. Both speakers offered delegates a serious insight into the mind of the yacht owner and the HNWI, with Ewing providing a wish list for the industry — an industry that has in been disadvantaged in recent times by crisis — in the hopes of helping it improve its performance.
Anyone interested in registering for Global Superyacht Forum 2011 or any other events organised by the SuperyachtEvents team should contact Andy Howell or visit SuperyachtEvents.com
Transcripts will be available to attending delegates and subscribers to the Business and Executive packages over the coming weeks at SuperyachtEvents.com
NEW: Sign up for SuperyachtNewsweek!
Get the latest weekly news, in-depth reports, intelligence, and strategic insights, delivered directly from The Superyacht Group's editors and market analysts.
Stay at the forefront of the superyacht industry with SuperyachtNewsweek
Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here.
NEW: Sign up for
SuperyachtNewsweek!
Get the latest weekly news, in-depth reports, intelligence, and strategic insights, delivered directly from The Superyacht Group's editors and market analysts.
Stay at the forefront of the superyacht industry with SuperyachtNewsweek
